Locking device for sliding closure

ABSTRACT

Locking structure for use in a sliding closure installation of the type having a movable closure panel guidingly constrained in adjustable movement in the frame of the closure opening stationarily supported in a building or the like and with the movable closure panel being of the type having a side channel member operatively engaging a flange-like guide of the stationary closure framing structure. The locking device of the instant invention includes a friction lock element supported in the guide channel structure of the closure panel and with the locking element having a groove engageable with the flange-like guide of the frame of the closure opening, and includes a threaded member operative upon bidirectional rotation to frictionally clamp and release the locking element and guide flange respectively in locking and releasing the sliding closure.

United States Patent 91 Godshall [54] LOCKING DEVICE FOR SLIDING CLOSURE [76] Inventor: Walter E. Godshall, 14215 NW.

17th Avenue, Miami, Fla.

[22] Filed: March 15, 1971 21 App1.No. 124,011

[52] U.S. CI. ..292/251 [51] Int. Cl. ..E05c 17/46 [58] Field of Search ..292/DIG. 46, 258, 288, 90, 292/251, 256

[56] References-Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,431 8/1886 Valentine ..292/288 3,172,145 3/1965 Miller ...292/DIG. 46 1,533,725 4/1925 Davenport.... ..292/256 903,265 11/1908 Atkins ...292/288 1,381,308 6/1921 l-lusa .L ..292/258 911,004 I 1/1909 Gano ..292/90 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1,464,119 11/1966 France ..292/DIG. 46

Jan. 23, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT Locking structure for use in a sliding closure installation of the type having a movable closure panel guidingly constrained in adjustable movement in the frame of the closure opening stationarily supported in a building or the like and with the movable closure panel being of the type having a side channel member operatively engaging a flange-like guide of the stationary closure framing structure. The locking device of the instant invention includes a friction lock element supported in the guide channel structure of the closure'panel and with the locking element having a groove engageable with the flange-like guide of the frame of the closure opening, and includes a threaded member operative upon bidirectional rotation to frictionally clamp and release the locking element and guide flange respectively in locking and releasing the sliding closure.

14 Claims, 4 Drawing Fillies LOCKING DEVICE FOR SLIDING CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The invention relates to sliding closures generally The lock means of the typical sliding closure construction is operative for locking the closure window or panel only in a fully closed configuration. Certain problems are noted in the use of such prior art closures. As an example, it is often desirable to position a sliding door closure in a partially open configuration for permitting entry and circulation of fresh air into the room of a building. If the closure structure is to provide barrier means for animals or small children, the closure may not be left partially open; the animal or a small child may push a partially open closure to a wider opening and get out or into the room. Also, small children may in curiosity or play, slidably operate a partially open door or closure with the attendant liklihood of injury to themselves or animal pets. The typical design of prior art closure locking means may also not be of sufficient safeguard against wrongful intrusion or burglary. A burglar may gain entry into a building by cutting a hole in the glass panel and releasing the closure lock, or by otherwise releasing the main lock means and gaining access to a building interior.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention obviates many of the abovementioned objectionable features in prior art closure lock design. By the utilization of the sliding closure lock means of the instant invention, a sliding dooror closure panel may be friction-locked in a partially open configuration for permitting fresh air circulation in a room or the like and yet provide barrier means for animals or small children. When the closurelock of the instant invention is in a locked or operative configuration, an animal or a small child may not push the partially open closure to a wider opening, permitting ingress or egress of a room. Also, the friction-lock construction prevents children from operating a sliding closure, safeguarding against the liklihood of injury to themselves or animal pets. The closure lock construction of the instant invention also provides auxiliary lock a building. The lock construction may be activated when a sliding closure is in a fully closed position and provide additional lock means adjunctive to the existing main lock means typically provided in a sliding closure installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an environmental view of the closure lock construction of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 isan enlarged fragmentary elevational showing of the closure lock construction;

FIG. 3 is a vertical plane sectional view taken as on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the friction lock element and clamping means therefor with the several parts being shown in disassembled array for purposes of clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The friction lock construction is indicated by numeral l2 and is described in conjunction with a sliding door or sliding closure installation 14 installed in a building wall 16 and including frame structure framing the opening of the building wall including vertical side jamb members 18, 18, a sill rail member (not shown) and a horizontal header rail member 20. A pair of closure panels 22, 24 are arranged in the closure opening of the building wall 16 and are operative in overlapping relation when the closure is opened. The closure panels 22, 24 are arranged respectively inwardly and outwardly of the plane of closure and each includes 7 respectively rectangular frame structure 26, 26, 28; 30, 30, 32 framing rectangular glass panels 34, 36 (the upper portions only of the rectangular glass panels and frame structure being shown in FIG. 1 for purposes of clarity). The outside closure panel 22 may be stationarily supported in the building opening with the vertical and horizontal panel frame members 26, 28 sealingly engaging respectively side jamb and header rail members 18, 20 of the closure opening of the building wall.

The inside closure panel 24 is of typical sliding closure configuration and is slidably constrained in translational shifting movement by upper and lower guide channels 32 of the closure panel 24 slidingly engaging respectively upper and lower guide flanges 38 of the stationary header rail 20 and sill rail structure the upper guide channel 32 and header rail 20 only being shown in the drawing. The flange and channel structure 38, 32 are generally of typical tongue and groove configuration and are parallel arranged respectively along the header and sill rail structure of the closure installation. The upper tongue and groove guide means of the inside closure panel 24 is of typical form, with the channel member 32 being laterally symmetrically arranged andlongitudinally slidable relative to the depending guide flange 38 of the header rail 20.

The guide channel 32 includes opposing parallel arranged side wall portions 40, 40', a web portion 42 and parallel projecting rib portions 44,44 typically receiving the edge margin of the glass panel. Molding or resilient insulating material, of U-section form, is interposedly arranged between the edge margin of the glass panel 36 and the channel structure 32 in typical fashion for securing the glass panel in the frame structure of the means for safeguarding against intrusion or burglary of sliding closure-The channel member 32 typically includes reinforcing bead portions 48, 48' extending longitudinally parallel and projecting slightly above the web portion 42 of the channel structure. Parallel extending weather strip means 50, 50 typically are pro vided on opposite sides of the flange projection 38; rows of bristle elements 52, 52' of the weather strip means engage respectively opposite side surfaces of the guide flange 38 for weather-sealing the closure.

The friction lock construction 12 of the instant invention includes a block-like locking element 54 generally interposedly arranged between the guide channel 32 of the closure panel 24 and the guide flange structure 38 of the stationary header rail. The locking element 54 is generally of U-Section form having a slot 56, and defining jaw portions 58, 58'; the locking element 54 is secured in the channel structure 32 with the flange portion 38 received in slot structure 56 and with the jaw portions 58, 58' engaging the flange structure. The distal portions of the jaws 58, 58 of the locking element define substantially shoe portions 60, 60 adapted for frictionally engaging the distal edge portion of the flange projection 38 of the header rail structure. The width of the slot 56 preferably is slightly greater than the width of the guide flange 38 and the shoe portions 60, 60 normally are spaced slightly from opposite side surfaces of the guide flange.

Screw-threaded lock bolt means preferably is provided for convergingly moving the jaw portions 58, 58 and for clamping the shoe portions 60, 60' against opposite side surfaces of the guide flange. A threaded lock bolt member 62 extending through aligned apertures 64, 64' formed in the jaw portions 58, 58' preferably provides the means for squeezing the shoe portions 60, 60' against the guide flange 38 in frictionally securing the channel 32 at a selected position along the guide flange 38 and in positioning the closure panel 24 at a selected opening.

A thrust block 66 having a threaded aperture 68 and a thrust block 66' having a smooth-bore aperture 68' are arranged respectively on opposite sides of the locking element 54 and flatwise engage respectively the jaw portions 58, 58'. The shank portion of the lock bolt 62 projects through the aperture 68' of thrust element 66 and through the aligned apertures 64, 64' of the locking element; the threaded distal extension 70 of the lock bolt 62 threadedly engages the aperture 68 of the thrust block 66. The radial abutment surface 72 of the bolt head portion 74 engages the outer surface of the thrust block 66 when the bolt is threadedly turned inwardly and when the locking element is arranged in an active configuration.

The locking element 54 preferably is formed of dense slightly resilient plastic material, permitting the jaw portions 58, 58 to spring convergingly, engaging the shoe portions 60, 60' with.the guide flange 38. The resilient character of the plastic material of the locking element 54, and particularly the plastic material in the bight portion 76 of the locking element, spreads the jaw portions 58, 58' when the lock bolt 62 is loosened, disengaging the shoe portions 60, 60' from the guide flange.

The lock bolt means, providing the action mechanism for engaging and releasing the locking element 54, preferably includes Allen type wrench means, including an angular Allen wrench key 78 adapted to be used for tumably manipulating the lock bolt 62. The head portion 74 of the lock bolt is provided with a socket 80 sized for removably receiving the bit portion 82 of the wrench key 78 in a driving connection. A

rubber grommet 84 preferably is insert-mounted in an aperture 86 provided in a vertical frame member 30 of the closure panel 24. The wrench key 78 is adapted to be supported in the grommet structure when it is not in use with the bit portion 82 being removably received in the resilient aperture structure 88 of the grommet.

The locking element 54 and the screw-threaded lock bolt means of the friction lock construction is constrained against longitudinal displacement of the guide channel structure 32 of the closure panel preferably by a short flush-head screw 90 threadedly engaging the bight portion 76 of the locking element 54 and the web portion 42 of the guide channel structure. The screw 90 is arranged underneath the resilient molding 46 of the glass panel 36, extends through an aperture in the web portion of the guide channel and engages a threaded socket 92 formed in the bight portion 76 of the locking element; the bight portion extends longitudinally snugly between the reinforcing bead portions 48, 48' parallel projecting from the web portion 42 of the closure panel guide channel.

A pair of lug portions 94, 94 and 94', 94 are arranged respectively on opposite sides of the locking element 54; the lug portions engage respectively the thrust block elements 66, 66' for preventing turning displacement thereof during manipulation of the lock bolt member. The transverse extension of the locking element 54, or the extreme transverse extension of the oppositely extending lug portions coincide substantially with the interspacial extension of the channel side walls 40, 40', providing a snug fit of the locking element laterally in the guide channel of the closure panel. The intermediate portion 96 of the lock bolt member 62 preferably is of reduced diameter for providing clearance of the bolt shank from the edge 98 of the header rail guide flange. An aperture 100 is provided in the side wall 40 of the guide channel 32 for receiving the head portion 74 of the lock bolt 62; the bolt head portion is loosely received in the aperture 100, providing free-turning manipulation of the lock screw.

In using the friction lock construction of the instant invention, and when it is desired to lock the closure panel 24 at a selected position, a user has only to remove the wrench key 78 from the grommet aperture 88, insert the bit portion 82 of the key in the bolt head 74, tighten the bolt 62 and frictionally engage the shoe portions 60, of the locking element with the stationary guide flange of the header rail. To release the closure panel 24, a user has only to carry out the abovedescribed actions in a converse manner.

While the instant invention is shown and described in an embodiment presently conceived as being a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A friction lock to hold a sliding closure panel in a predetermined position with respect to a stationary frame having a guide flange extending into the plane of closure, said closure panel being of the type including a frame having a guide channel opening outwardly of the plane of closure operably correspondingly engaging said guide flange, said friction lock comprising a locking element having a jaw portion of resilient yieldable material having a height to normally loosely engage the stationary frame flange,

said jaw portion being sized to nest within the guide channel of said closure panel and frictionally engage said stationary frame flange,

structure defining a hole extending transversely through said jaw portion, and including a threaded member extending into said hole, operative upon bidirectional rotation for frictionally engaging and releasing said jaw portion and frame flange.

2. A friction lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said threaded member includes a head portion having a socket sized to receive the bit portion of a wrench in a driving connection for turning the threaded member,

includes a wrench having a bit portion for engaging said threaded member, and

a rubber grommet, insert-mounted in a closure panel for receiving the bit portion and holding the wrench when it is not in use.

3. The combination with a sliding closure installation in a building or the like, having means guidingly constraining a closure panel in translational movement between closed and open positions, having a tin guide flangestationarily supported in the building or the like, wherein said closure panel is provided. with a side member of U-section form, wherein said guide flange and channel are operably fitted together in tongue and groove relation;

friction lock means manually adjustable for locking the closure panel and frame flange to one another at selective openings of the closure panel, comprisa locking element interposed between the stationary guide flange and closure panel guide channel, in-

cluding shoe means engageable and disengageable with said guide flange and 7 action means manually, operative for selectively arranging said shoe means of said locking element in engaged locked and disengaged unlocked configuration.

4. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim wherein said locking element is generally of elongate form, U-shaped in transverse section,

having exterior lateral proportions providing a snug fit in the guide channel of the closure panel, and

defining a pair of jaws having shoe portions defining v eonfrontingshoe surfaces normally closely spaced respectively from opposite side surfaces of said stationary guide flange, and

wherein said action means includes means selectively operative for actuating the shoe portions of said locking element into engagement and disengagement with said guide flange surfaces respectively for locking and releasing said closure panel. 5. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim wherein at least the bight portion of said U-shaped locking element is of material of resilient character, and v wherein said action means includes means selectively operative for convergingly engaging and divergingly disengaging said shoe surfaces with said guide flange respectively for locking or releasing said closure panel. 6. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim wherein said action means includes threaded bolt means extending transversely through said jaw portions ancl between the bight portion of said locking element and the edge portion of said guide flange, providing means for convergingly clamping or divergingly releasing said guide flange in response'to bidirectional turning movement of said bolt means. 7. Thefriction lock combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for clamping and releasing said guide flange means includes screw thread elements of unidirectional pitch,

formed on theshank portion of said bolt means,

5 including threaded aperture means receiving said threaded shank portion of said bolt means and being in association with one of said jaw members, and

including a head potion defining a radial abutment surface adapted for association with the other one of said jaw members,

whereupon bidirectional turning movement of said bolt means is adapted for causing relative converging and diverging movement between said threaded aperture and radial abutment surface of said bolt means and being respectively operative for clampingly locking or releasing the shoe portions of said locking element and guide flange, and

including check means for preventing displacement of said locking element longitudinally of said closure frame guide channel.

8.The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 7 including a nut block defining said threaded aperture means, adapted to abuttingly engage said first-mentioned jaw member.

9. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 8 including a thrust block having an aperture formed therethrough, receiving the bolt shank and wherein said thrust block is operatively arranged between said radial thrust surface of said locking element and said other one of said jaw members. 10. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said check means for preventing displacement of said locking element in said closure frame guide channel includes screw means extending through the web portion of 40 said U-sectioned channel threadedly fixed in said locking element. 11. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said bolt means is provided with a splined socket and includes I a wrench having a companionate bit portion adapted for engaging said socket in turning said bolt means. 12. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 11 which includes a rubber grommet element fitted in a frame member of said closure panel, with the size of the resilient aperture structure of said grommet element and the transverse size of said wrench bit portion being of relative proportion and operative for resiliently removely holding the wrench in the grommet when it is not in use in turnably manipulating the bolt means in locking and unlocking the closure panel of a closure installation. I 13. A locking device for selectively limiting the extent of opening of a combination of a door slidably retained in a frame and movable between a door open and a door closed position, said device comprising,

an actuatable locking element disposed between the door and frame,

means ridingly fixing the element to said door and permitting sliding movement of the door between the positions with the element at all times between the door and frame,

14. A locking device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said portion comprises confronting jaw members movable into and out of embracing relation of the frame to grip and frictionally lock the door to the frame at selected locations of the door between the door open and door closed positions on manipulation of said manually operable locking means.

ll i l 0 i 

1. A friction lock to hold a sliding closure panel in a predetermined position with respect to a stationary frame having a guide flange extending into the plane of closure, said closure panel being of the type including a frame having a guide channel opening outwardly of the plane of closure operably correspondingly engaging said guide flange, said friction lock comprising a locking element having a jaw portion of resilient yieldable material having a height to normally loosely engage the stationary frame flange, said jaw portion being sized to nest within the guide channel of said closure panel and frictionally engage said stationary frame flange, structure defining a hole extending transversely through said jaw portion, and including a threaded member extending into said hole, operative upon bidirectional rotation for frictionally engaging and releasing said jaw portion and frame flange.
 2. A friction lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said threaded member includes a head portion having a socket sized to receive the bit portion of a wrench in a driving connection for turning the threaded member, includes a wrench having a bit portion for engaging said threaded member, and a rubber grommet, insert-mounted in a closure panel for receiving the bit portion and holding the wrench when it is not in use.
 3. The combination with a sliding closure installation in a building or the like, having means guidingly constraining a closure panel in translational movement between closed and open positions, having a tin guide flange stationarily supported in the building or the like, wherein said closure panel is provided with a side member of U-section form, wherein said guide flange and channel are operably fitted together in tongue and groove relation; friction lock means manually adjustable for locking the closure panel and frame flange to one another at selective openings of the closure panel, comprising a locking element interposed between the stationary guide flange and closure panel guide channel, including shoe means engageable and disengageable with said guide flange and action means manually operative for selectively arranging said shoe means of said locking element in engaged locked and disengaged unlocked configuration.
 4. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking element is generally of elongate form, U-shaped in transverse section, having exterior lateral proportions providing a snug fit in the guide channel of the closure panel, and defining a pair of jaws having shoe portions defining confronting shoe surfaces normally closely spaced respectively from opposite side surfaces of said stationary guide flange, and wherein said action means includes means selectively operative for actuating the shoe portions of said locking element into engagement and disengagement with said guide flange surfaces respectively for locking and releasing said closure panel.
 5. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least the bight portion of said U-shaped locking element is of material of resilient character, and wherein said action means includes means selectively operative for convergingly engaging and divergingly disengaging said shoe surfaces with said guide flange respectively for locking or releasing said closure panel.
 6. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said action means includes threaded bolt means extending transversely through said jaw portions and between the bight portion of said locking element and the edge portion of said guide flange, providing means for convergingly clamping or divergingly releasing said guide flange in response to bidirectional turning movement of said bolt means.
 7. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for clamping and releasing said guide flange means includes screw thread elements of unidirectional pitch, formed on the shank portion of said bolt means, including threaded aperture means receiving said threaded shank portion of said bolt means and being in association with one of said jaw members, and including a head potion defining a radial abutment surface adapted for association with the other one of said jaw members, whereupon bidirectional turning movement of said bolt means is adapted for causing relative converging and diverging movement between said threaded aperture and radial abutment surface of said bolt means and being respectively operative for clampingly locking or releasing the shoe portions of said locking element and guide flange, and including check means for preventing displacement of said locking element longitudinally of said closure frame guide channel.
 8. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 7 including a nut block defining said threaded aperture means, adapted to abuttingly engage said first-mentioned jaw member.
 9. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 8 including a thrust block having an aperture formed therethrough, receiving the bolt shank and wherein said thrust block is operatively arranged between said radial thrust surface of said locking element and said other one of said jaw members.
 10. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said check means for preventing displacement of said locking element in said closure frame guide channel includes screw means extending through the web portion of said U-sectioned channel threadedly fixed in said locking element.
 11. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said bolt means is provided with a splined socket and includes a wrench having a companionate bit portion adapted for engaging said socket in turning said bolt means.
 12. The friction lock combination as set forth in claim 11 which includes a rubber grommet element fitted in a frame member of said closure panel, with the size of the resilient aperture structure of said grommet element and the transverse size of said wrench bit portion being of relative proportion and operative for resiliently removely hoLding the wrench in the grommet when it is not in use in turnably manipulating the bolt means in locking and unlocking the closure panel of a closure installation.
 13. A locking device for selectively limiting the extent of opening of a combination of a door slidably retained in a frame and movable between a door open and a door closed position, said device comprising, an actuatable locking element disposed between the door and frame, means ridingly fixing the element to said door and permitting sliding movement of the door between the positions with the element at all times between the door and frame, said locking element including a portion movable into and out of frictional engagement with said frame and manually operable locking means to move said portion into frictional engagement with said frame to lock the door and frame together at any selected open position between the open and closed positions.
 14. A locking device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said portion comprises confronting jaw members movable into and out of embracing relation of the frame to grip and frictionally lock the door to the frame at selected locations of the door between the door open and door closed positions on manipulation of said manually operable locking means. 